FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Elite Prize Purse Announced for 2015 Chevron Houston Marathon Race Weekend
HOUSTON (September 3, 2014) - The Houston Marathon Committee (HMC)
announced on Wednesday the elite prize purse for the 2015 Chevron Houston
Marathon and Aramco Houston Half Marathon. A total of $276,000 in
guaranteed prize money will be awarded to the top finishers in the four
races on race day, including a $40,000 first place payout for both the
men's and women's champions at the 2015 Chevron Houston Marathon.
"We always look forward to announcing our prize money for the coming year's
races, because that announcement signals the start of our effort to secure
the very best available talent to run on the streets of Houston in
January," said Board President and Race Director Brant Kotch. "This year's
enhanced guaranteed prize money purse, plus numerous time incentives that
really broaden the pool of recipients, will allow us to do just that. The
open purse for the Marathon and the USA Half Marathon Championship, mean
that spectators and participants alike will be able to watch, and perhaps
participate beside, some tremendous professional runners."
With the return of the USA Half Marathon Championships to Houston, the
Aramco Houston Half Marathon prize purse will again pay ten deep, while the
Marathon will pay out to the top seven. In addition to the awards based on
finish, there are time-based bonuses varying between $1,000 and $5,000 in
the half marathon. There's also a course record bonus of $15,000 for the
marathon and an American record bonus of $5,000 for the half marathon.
In addition to the awards based on finish, MarathonGuide.com will provide
$5,000 to the top American male and female in the marathon, as well as
American Time Bonus Money to athletes who qualify for the 2016 Olympic
Trials - Marathon at the 2015 Chevron Houston Marathon. In conjunction with
the time bonus money and the $5,000 award for the top American male and
female finisher in the marathon, MarathonGuide.com will provide hotel
nights for approved athletes seeking the 2016 Olympic Trials standard and a
$750 bonus for athletes who achieve their first "A" or "B" standard for the
2016 Olympic Trials at the 2015 Chevron Houston Marathon.
"MarathonGuide.com is committed to supporting the marathon distance and
American athletes." said MarathonGuide.com President John Elliott. "We are
glad to be able to help provide this opportunity for American runners to
chase their Olympic Trials qualifying goals at one of the fastest and most
runner-friendly races in the country. We hope the offer of entry, lodging
and possible bonus will enable more runners to compete at the race and
reach the standard."
Following are the detailed prize money categories:
Marathon prize money (Equal for men and women)
1 - $40,000
2 - $20,000
3 - $10,000
4 - $6,000
5 - $4,000
6 - $3,000
7 - $2,000
Course record bonus - $15,000
Top American Male and Female - $5,000
Masters (40+)
1 - $1,500
2 - $1,000
3 - $500
Local Athletes (Local invited runners must be able to prove permanent
residence in one of 19 counties surrounding Houston.)
1 - $500
2 - $350
3 - $150
Local Masters
40-49 - $250
50-59 - $125
60-69 - $125
70-79 - $125
Half Marathon prize money (Equal for men and women)
1 - $12,000
2 - $10,000
3 - $7,000
4 - $5,000
5 - $3,000
6 - $2,000
7 - $1,000
8 - $750
9 - $500
10 - $250
Time Bonus Incentives
Men Sub 1:05, Women Sub 1:14 - $250
Men Sub 1:04, Women Sub 1:13 - $500
Men Sub 1:03, Women Sub 1:12 - $750
Men Sub 1:02, Women Sub 1:11 - $1,000
Men Sub 1:01, Women Sub 1:10 - $1,250
US Record - $5,000
Masters (40+)
1 - $1,000
Local Athletes (Local invited runners must be able to prove permanent
residence in one of 19 counties surrounding Houston.)
1 - $250
2 - $150
3 - $100
Local Masters
40-49 - $150
50-59 - $75
60-69 - $75
70-79 - $75
For complete information on the 2015 Chevron Houston Marathon, Aramco
Houston Half Marathon and USA Half Marathon Championships prize purse,
please visit http://www.chevronhoustonmarathon.com/Races/EliteAthletes.cfm
About the Houston Marathon Committee, Inc.
Established in 1972, the Houston Marathon Committee, Inc. (HMC), a Running
USA Founding Member, annually organizes the nation's premier winter
marathon, half-marathon, and 5K. Over 250,000 participants, volunteers and
spectators make Chevron Houston Marathon Race Day the largest single-day
sporting event in Houston. Race Weekend generates over $50 million in
economic impact for the region annually. In 2014, the Run For a Reason
Charity Program raised a record $2.6 million and the HMC retained Gold
Certification from the Council of Responsible Sport for industry-leading
sustainability initiatives. Host to 14 U.S. Half Marathon Championships
since 2005 and the 1992 women's Olympic Trials Marathon, HMC conducted the
nationally-televised 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon, which featured men
and women competing on the same course simultaneously for the first time,
vying for the chance to represent Team USA at the 2012 Olympic Games.
For more information, visit www.chevronhoustonmarathon.com or call
713.957.3453.
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